Sources said the former chief minister of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh wanted to contest one last time and had also pleaded with the party leadership to field his son Rohit Shekhar but his pleas were not yielded to.

He told his close associates and supporters in Lucknow late Tuesday that he has left it to the voters of Nainital to elect their representatives and ruled himself out of the race.

"People of Uttarakhand will decide whether or not I have been cheated and let down by a party I served all my life," he said.

The 88-year-old leader, who has served in many capacities in public life including union minister, chief minister and governor, also said that it was only Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav who has shown respect for him.

He also accused the state Congress leaders in Uttarakhand of misinforming the party leadership of the ground realities in the state.